Gangwon FC vs Busan I’Park
A trip back to the Chuncheon Songam Sports Town Main Stadium may be what Gangwon FC need as they try to get back on their feet when they host Busan I’Park this Saturday evening.
This next K-League contest will feature two clubs who have been struggling to find their rhythm as of late, so it’s expected that both of them will come out playing with a big sense of urgency.
Gangwon FC will be more than eager to get their first win since the start of June, while the same can be said for the Busan I’Park squad who have only notched one victory after the first nine games of the season.
The home team is currently sixth at the standings with 11 points while the visitors remain at the 11th spot with only eight points. And a win by either of these two teams can make a huge ripple effect across the sixth to 11th spots.
We’ve already reached one-third of the 2019/20 season and we can expect more entertaining and intense K-League action right here in SBOBET moving forward.
Talking Points
Gangwon FC dealing with injuries to key players
Since winning over Incheon United earlier last month, the Kodiaks have been slipping over these last few games.
They were unable to close out the Suwon Bluewings with no thanks to a late goal by Kim Min-woo in the 83rd minute. And that was followed up by three consecutive losses against powerhouse clubs Ulsan Hyundai, the Pohang Steelers, and a resurgent Daegu FC
Their backline has been subpar during the said stretch, giving up seven goals while scoring only once.
While many would point to Kim Byungsoo’s managerial chops as one of the culprits for their lacklustre run, a huge part of it is due to them missing some of their important players.
Takahiro Nakazato has suffered a fracture while Kim Seungdae is experiencing an Achilles problem. Their top scorer in Ko Mu-yeol had some neck issues while Kim Youngbin also had a knee injury which hurt their depth at the back.
Ko Mu-yeol and Kim Seungdae’s injuries have hurt their overall attack. Although Ko Mu-yeol was the one responsible for their only goal against Daegu FC, the Kodiaks simply looked lost with the roster not in full strength.
It remains to be seen on whether Ko Mu-yeol and Kim Seungdae are going to be featured in the starting XI once more this weekend. But it is expected that they’ll be back since their injuries are reportedly minor.
Moreover, Gangwon recently added Kim Soobeom from the A-League in order to bolster their defence. The wing back should be a helpful addition for the team moving forward.
Busan I’Park taking baby steps for progress
Busan I’Park’s first season back in the Korean top-flight has been a rough ride so far, but there are some encouraging signs that should give them some sense of optimism.
Their defence, for one, has been doing well with Kim Moon-hwan holding down the fort. The young full-back is also versatile as he can provide support at the attack in the middle.
Veteran centre-backs Kang Min-soo, Kim Dong-woo, and Dostonbek Tursunov should be credited for their improved backline as well, as they were able to make the likes of Ulsan and Jeonbuk uncomfortable in their matches back then.
Although they are currently placed at the 11th spot at the table, they are six points clear ahead of Incheon United who have only two points so far.
It is still early in the season and they can quickly get out of the relegation zone especially if they string a couple of wins in the next few matchdays.
History
Surprisingly, Busan I’Park have had the upper hand in their overall head-to-heads against Gangwon FC.
In their 15 matches together, the visitors have won in seven matches while the home team have only won twice along with six draws.
This match will mark the first time that these two teams lock horns since November 2016. Back then, it was Gangwon who emerged victorious with a 1-0 tally and it was their only win against them that year out of their five meetings.
Betting Tip
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Gangwon FC vs Busan I’Park94 | Gangwon FC Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.14 |
| July 4, 18:00 (GMT+8) |
For this matchup, Gangwon FC are favoured to win at 2.13, while Busan I’Park are priced at 3.20 and the K-League 2020 odds of a draw are at 3.35 in the 1×2 market.
If you are checking out on the total goal count, don’t expect this one to be a goal-fest since historically, they’ve mustered only an average of 1.93 goals per contest.
Because of Gangwon’s relatively banged up roster compared to Busan, this match might be closer than expected. But ultimately, I would have to side with the home team on this one given their much better depth over the visitors.
For more K-League 2020 updates, continue to tune in to our coverage of the Korean’s top-flight football league.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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